Change purse construction



F. s. DOBBS EI'AL 2,687,159 CHANGE PURSE CONSTRUCTION Alig. 24, 1954 Filed Oct. 27, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS: FRANK s. D0555 AND STEDHAN H. oosas,

THE/P 4 65 IV 75'.

Aug. 24, 1954 F. G. DOBBS EI'AL CHANGE PURSE CONSTRUCTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed 001:. 27, 1953 (IHIIIILUMIHIIII A GI'IIIUIII-TIIIIIHIJ INVENTORS: FRANK G. D0885 AND STEPHAN H. 0056s,

THEIR 065N715.

Patented Aug. 24, 1954 CHANGE PURSE CONSTRUCTION Frank G. Dobbs and Stephan H. Dobbs,

New York, N. Y.

Application October 27, 1953, Serial No. 388,576

Claims. (Cl. 150-37) The invention relates to receptacles, and relates more particularly to receptacles of the purse type that receive currency in the form of bills and coins.

In purses of this type, it has always been a major source of annoyance that it needed to be opened to take out money, and had also needed to be opened for the insertion of money, such as the return of the change.

It is among the objects of the invention to provide for means that will make it unnecessary to open the purse for the insertion of money.

Generally speaking, this is accomplished by providing a slot in the front wall of the purse at some distance from the usual open end through which customarily the money is passed, through which coins and bills may be pushed into the pocket without uncovering the aforesaid open end.

Although the invention will be explained in the following in connection with the simplest form of purse, it will be understood that it may be applied to pocketbooks and other receptacles, such as wallets and billfolds and generally to all kinds of purses, and that this simplification is made only for the purpose of illustration and that no limitation is intended thereby save as set out in the claims hereof. I

The foregoing and other objects of the invention will be best understood from the following description of and exempliflcations thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

I Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a purse in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 3, but showing the step of inserting a coin;

Fig. 5 is a front elevational view similar to Fig. 2, but embodying a modification;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Fig.

Fig. 7 is a front elevational view similar to Figs. 2 and 5, but embodying a further modification; and

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on line 8-8 of Fig. '7.

In carrying the invention into effect in one of the embodiments which have been selected for illustration in the accompanying drawings and for description in this specification, and referring now particularly to Figs. 1-3, there is provided a purse generally indicated at Ill. The purse I0 comprises a body II that in this exemplification I 2 consists of a rear wall I2 and a front wall I3 that define therebetween a pocket I 4'. The pocket I4 is open at the top I6. A cover flap I5 is connected to, for instance integrally with, the rear wall I2, and is movable between a closed and an open position. In the closed position, which is shown in Fig. 3, the flap l5 covers the open top I6 thereby closing the pocket I 4. A partially open position is shown in Fig. 1, and the flap I5 may be opened further until it is aligned with the rear wall I2 for affording access to the interior of the pocket I4 (not shown in detail).

Fastening means, such as a two-part snap fastener I1, is provided between the front wall I3 and the flap l5 for removably fastening the flap I5 to the front wall I3 in the closed position.

Below the open top Is, there is provided in the front wall I3 an opening or slot I8 that is elongated horizontally and narrow in the vertical direction and which is dimensioned for the passage of customary coins, for instance in United States currency for up to one-half dollar piece, or even larger, as well as for the passage of folded currency bills.

The slot I8 forms an intercommunication between the interior of the pocket l4 and the exterior of the body II, and thus provides a passage for coins to be pushed therethrough into the pocket I 4. The slot I8 has an upper lip I9 and a lower lip 20. At least one of these lips I9 and 20 is resiliently flexible, or the material of the front wall I 3 may be resiliently flexible, while the remainder of the purse I0 may be flexible or semirigid or rigid.

In the embodiment of Figs. 1-3, a reinforce ment 2| is provided to reinforce at least the major portion of the lower lip 20. This reinforcement comprises a channel member of which the front portion 22 provides an embellishment for the lower lip while reinforcing it, and the rear portion 23 of the channel 2I lies flat against the interior area adjacent the lower lip 20. The channel 2| may be clamped over the lower lip 20, and may consist of metal and the front portion 22 may be polished to afford a pleasing impression upon the eye.

In the flap I5 there is formed an aperture 24 that, in the closed position of the flap I5 is in registry with the slot l8 exposing the slot I8 as well as reinforcement channel 2| to the eye of the observer. In the closed position, the aperture provides a sort of frame for the design of the slot I8 and channel 2|, while the remainder of the flap I5 overlaps a portion of the front wall I3.

As best shown in Fig. 4, the upper lip I9 is 3 flexible, and it is resilient, and may be pressed inwardly by a coin that is pushed into the pocket I 4. After the coin is in, the upper lip l9 will snap back into its original position shown in Fig. 3 and thereby there is prevented an accidental removal of a coin from the interior of the pocket [4 through the slot Hi.

In using the purse, money is removed by opening the flap E5 to gain access to the interior of the pocket l4. Thereafter, the purse may be closed, by removably securing the flap E5 to the front wall [3 by means of snap fastener 51. Money may thereafter be inserted into the pocket I4 through the slot l8, for instance in the manner shown in Fig. 4. Naturally, if desired, money may also be inserted byfirst opening the flap l5 and passing it through the open top 16.

In the modification shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the

slot H8 provides for a gap between the upper lip H9 and the lower lip I20. The upper and lower lips thus never touch, and the slot H8 is always open for the gap.

A reinforcement such as an eyelet 26 is connected to the frontwall i3 throughout the con tour or edge of the slot H8. The eyelet 25 is elongated and provides between its parallel arms 2'! and 28 a ga 25 which is sufficiently wide (in the vertical direction) to pass coins that are forced through though sufficiently narrow to i make it difiicult for coins to pass through it accidentally upwardly from the pocket M. As an example, the gap H8 may be 1% long and 1%" wide.

The aperture 24 of the flap [5 again is in registry with the slot H8, and also with the reinforcement eyelet 26, when the flap I5 is closed, providing a frame for the eyelet 26 and the slot H8. The eyelet 26 may be made of metal, and have a polished finish providing a pleasing design pattern within the frame of the aperture 24. In this modification, the tops H9 and I2!) need not be flexible, though they may.

In the modification shown in Figs. 7 and 8, the lips l9 and 20 of the slot I8 are without reinforcement and flexible.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the novel principles of the invention disclosed herein in connection with specific exemplifications thereof will suggest various other modifications and applications of the same.

It is accordingly desired that in construing the breadth of the appended claims they shall not be limited to the specific exemplifications of the invention described herein.

Having thus described the invention, what we claim as new and desire to be secured by Letters Patent, is as follows:

1. In a purse structure, in combination, a body defining a pocket open on top and including a wall, a cover for said open top secured to the body and being movable between a closed position wherein it overlaps a portion of said wall and covers said open top and, respectively, an open position wherein it uncovers said portion and said open top, said portion of said-Wall having a slot forming an intercommunication between said pocket and the-exterior of said body, said cover having an aperture positioned for registry with said slot when said cover is in the closed position, said slot and aperture being dimensioned sufficiently large for the passage of coins.

2. In a purse structure as claimed in claim 1, said slot being lined by two lips integral with said wall, at least one of said lips being sufficient- 1y resilient for yielding upon insertion of a coin to form with said other lip a coin passage and to return thereafter to a position adjacent said other lip.

3. In a purse structure as claimed in claim 1, said slot being lined by two lips integral with said wall, and reinforcement means secured to said wall adjacent said slot and being operable for reinforcing at least one of said lips.

4. In a purse structure, a body having a front and rear wall defining a pocket open on top, and a flap connected to said body and normally positioned to cover said open top and at least a por tion of said front wall, said portion of said front wall being provided with an opening communicating with the interior of said pocket and the exterior of saidbody, said flap being formed with an aperture being in the normal position of said flap in registry with said opening, said opening and said aperture being dimensioned for the passage of coins, and a frame connected to said front wall and surrounding said opening throughout the contour thereof.

5. In a purse structure, as claimed in claim 4, said aperture having a larger area than the orbit of said frame to expose the latter in said normal position. 7

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 894,510 Levy July 28, 1908 1,239,143 Van Horn Sept. 4, 1917 1,872,651 Berkowitz Aug. 23, 1932 2,154,780 Silverberg Apr. 18, 1939 2,326,683 Ross Aug. 10, 1943 

